Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day! With local schools closing for the summer, our weekly Outdoor Jazz Guide is picking up steam with four great options taking place on Saturday, June 1st. Fore!Fest is bringing a variety of great live music to Bridge Park in Dublin in honor of the Memorial Tournament, and the lineup for Saturday, its final day, includes Dublin’s own big band Emerald City Swing Orchestra at 11am (mere hours after its monthly Ballroom Dance Party appearance at Emerald City Ballroom) and Columbus/Athens party-starters Largemouth Brass Band at 5pm – full details here. The 3rd annual Chicken & Beer Festival at West Bank Park Downtown opens its strong schedule with the FPA Steel Band at Noon and the Sam McCoy Trio at 1pm – more info here. Across the Scioto, the first Rhythm on the River Music Festival at Bicentennial Park celebrates a wide selection of American song, including the funk, rock, jazz and fusion of The Ides of March (“Vehicle”) at 7pm. Finally, Mansfield’s Just Jazz Live makes its first summer appearance on the patio at Cimi’s Bistro at Pinnacle in Grove City at 6pm. Keep reading for previews of exciting options (or a thorough itinerary) for Friday!
Shows To See This Week
Friday, May 31st (6 – 6:45pm): Summer Exhibitions Preview: The Ogún Meji Duo at Wexner Center. One of the Wexner’s art exhibitions for its summer series is renowned jazz pianist Jason Moran’s eponymous collection of “mixed-media ‘set’ installations that pay homage to the places and processes of jazz.” These installations will be activated by in-gallery musical performances throughout the exhibition’s run – the schedule starts on a high note with an opening performance by the Ogún Meji Duo. Featuring Wexner Center Artist Residency Award recipient Dr. Mark Lomax, II on percussion and Eddie Bayard on tenor saxophone, the duo will surely represent a thoughtful and thought-provoking kickoff to this anticipated event. More details on this free event here.
Friday, May 31st (8 – 11pm): Bob Niederriter Trio with Tony Monaco & Chris Hovan at Filament at The Vanderelli Room, Franklinton. Filament ends a bursting and varied May schedule with a trio of Ohio greats. Kent-based guitarist Niederriter makes his periodic return to Columbus with Cleveland writer, photographer and musician Hovan on drums and Columbus’ own B3 monster Monaco on organ in his first full appearance at this intimate space. Expect an “evening of fun, bluesy B3 organ jazz…Come and hear the band put a swinging stamp on a program of jazz classics, ballads, and blues.” Admission is $10, BYOB. More details here for high-powered jazz entertainment at a reasonable hour.
Friday, May 31st (10 pm – 2am): Alex Schrock’s Flying Whales at Dick’s Den. Guitarist Schrock has announced a new project featuring his original tunes for this weekend appearance at “The One and Only.” He will be joined by a quartet of heavy hitters, with Danny Bauer on keyboard, Bradley Mellen on bass and Reggie Jackson on drumset. Hear new work by old favorites with cheap drinks in a relaxed atmosphere, a great way to round out your Friday night! Cover is $5.
Have a great week!